WP Fastest Cache is one of the simplest ways to speed up a WordPress site, but only if it’s configured correctly.
In this guide, I’ll show you the exact settings I use on real websites to improve load times, reduce server load, and avoid common mistakes that break layouts or scripts.
Quick Summary (Recommended Settings)
If you want the fastest and most reliable setup, use the settings below:
| Setting | Enable? |
|---|---|
| Cache System | ✅ |
| Preload | ✅ |
| Mobile | ✅ |
| Gzip | ✅ |
| Browser Caching | ✅ |
| Minify HTML | ✅ |
| Minify CSS | ✅ |
| Combine CSS | ❌ |
| Combine JS | ❌ |
Table of Contents
- Quick Summary (Recommended Settings)
- What Is Caching (And Why It Matters)?
- Step 1: Install WP Fastest Cache
- Step 2: Recommended WP Fastest Cache Settings (Best Configuration)
- Step 3: Manually Clearing the Cache
- Does WP Fastest Cache Really Improve Speed?
- Quick Setup Checklist (Recommended Configuration)
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Next step: Optimize your theme
What Is Caching (And Why It Matters)?
Normally, every time someone visits your website, WordPress runs PHP scripts, connects to the database, builds the page dynamically, and sends it to the visitor. This happens from scratch on every single page load.
A caching plugin creates a static version of your pages and serves that instead. The result is faster load times, reduced server usage, better Google PageSpeed scores, and a smoother experience for your visitors.
For most small business websites, caching alone can cut load times by 30–60% with almost no technical effort.
Step 1: Install WP Fastest Cache
Follow the steps below to install the WP Fastest Cache plugin from the WordPress plugin directory:
- Go to the Plugins → Add New
- In the search field enter “WP Fastest Cache”
- Click Install Now and wait
- When the Activate button appears, click it
Step 2: Recommended WP Fastest Cache Settings (Best Configuration)
Once installed, go to the WP Fastest Cache tab and enable the following settings.
These are the recommended baseline configuration for most WordPress websites and will safely improve performance without breaking your site.
Core Settings
These settings provide the biggest performance improvement and are safe for almost every website. If you only configure these correctly, you’ll already see a noticeable speed improvement.
✅ Cache System – Enable (Required)
This is the core feature of the plugin and must be enabled for caching to work.
✅ Preload – Enable (Recommended)
Automatically generates cached pages in advance, so visitors are always served a fast-loading version of your site.
✅ Mobile – Enable (Recommended)
Ensures your site is properly cached for mobile users, which is important for performance and SEO.
✅ Gzip – Enable (Recommended)
Compresses your website files before sending them to visitors, reducing page size and improving load speed.
✅ Browser Caching – Enable (Recommended)
Stores static files in users’ browsers so returning visitors experience significantly faster load times.
✅ New Post – Enable (Recommended)
Automatically clears the cache when you publish new content.
✅ Update Post – Enable (Recommended)
Clears cache when you update existing posts to ensure changes are visible.
Performance Optimization
These settings provide additional speed improvements but should be tested, as they can occasionally affect styling.
✅ Minify HTML – Enable (Recommended)
Removes unnecessary code from HTML files to reduce page size and improve speed.
✅ Minify CSS – Enable (Recommended, Test if Needed)
Compresses CSS files for better performance. Rarely causes issues, but test after enabling.
Settings to Use Carefully
🟡 Logged-in Users – Enable (Only if Needed)
Enable this if your site has logged-in users (e.g., membership sites or WooCommerce stores). Otherwise, leave it disabled, as enabling it unnecessarily can reduce caching effectiveness.
Settings to Avoid
These options were more useful in older optimization setups but are less reliable with modern WordPress themes and plugins.
❌ Combine CSS – Disable (Not Recommended)
Can break layouts or styling, especially with modern themes and page builders.
❌ Combine JS – Disable (Not Recommended)
May cause JavaScript errors or conflicts with plugins.
Final Step (Important)
After applying settings:
- Click Submit to save changes
- Go to the Delete Cache tab
- Click Clear All Cache
This ensures your new settings take effect immediately.
If Something Breaks After Setup
If your site layout or scripts break:
- Disable Combine CSS
- Disable Combine JS
- Clear all cache
- Refresh page in incognito
Step 3: Manually Clearing the Cache
Sometimes you want to manually clear the cache of WP Fastest Cache, for example after theme and plugin updates.
To manually clear the cache:
- Hover over the admin bar at the top of your screen
- Click Clear All Cache
- Refresh your page
Does WP Fastest Cache Really Improve Speed?
Yes, significantly. When configured correctly, it reduces server processing time, lowers Time to First Byte (TTFB), and improves your scores in tools like Google PageSpeed Insights. For most small business websites, caching alone can cut load times by 30–60%.
For the biggest combined impact, pair it with proper image compression. Our guide on how to compress images in WordPress shows how to reduce file sizes by up to 80% without losing quality.
Caching is one of ten techniques covered in our complete guide to boosting page speed for your WordPress site.
Quick Setup Checklist (Recommended Configuration)
✅ Cache System → ON (required)
✅ Preload → ON
✅ Gzip → ON
✅ Browser Caching → ON
❌ Combine CSS → OFF
❌ Combine JS → OFF
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WP Fastest Cache free?
Yes. WP Fastest Cache has a free version that covers all the essential settings described in this guide, including caching, Gzip, and browser caching. A premium version is available with additional features like image optimisation and cache timeout rules, but the free version is sufficient for most small business sites.
Does WP Fastest Cache work with WooCommerce?
Yes, but with some caveats. Cart, checkout, and account pages should be excluded from caching to avoid displaying outdated content to logged-in customers. WP Fastest Cache handles this automatically for standard WooCommerce pages, but it’s worth checking your exclusion rules after setup.
What’s the difference between WP Fastest Cache free and premium?
The free version covers the core caching features that make the biggest difference to load times. The premium version adds image optimisation, cache timeout scheduling, and CDN support. For most small business websites, the free version is all you need.
Will WP Fastest Cache break my website?
It shouldn’t, but if your site looks broken after enabling it (missing styles, layout issues) the most common cause is the Combine CSS or Combine JS options conflicting with your theme or another plugin. Disable those two options first and the issue usually resolves immediately.
How often should I clear the cache?
You should clear the cache any time you make changes to your website — new posts, page edits, plugin updates, or theme changes. WP Fastest Cache can also be configured to clear automatically at set intervals using the cache timeout feature in the premium version.
Does caching affect SEO?
Yes, positively. Page speed is a confirmed Google ranking factor. A faster website improves your Core Web Vitals scores — particularly Time to First Byte (TTFB) and Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) — which directly affect how Google assesses and ranks your pages.
Next step: Optimize your theme
Caching helps a lot, but your theme also affects speed. Choosing a lightweight, optimized theme can further improve performance.
